At the start of the second presidential debate on Oct. 9, 2016, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump did not shake hands, breaking with tradition. (Published Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016)

Professional athletes have taken to Twitter to set the record straight: Donald Trump's comments about women were not "locker room talk," they say.

During the second presidential debate in St. Louis, the Republican nominee for president brushed off his recorded 2005 comments saying he could do anything to women because he is famous as typical guy talk often heard in locker rooms.

The release of the 11-year-old "Access Hollywood" video Friday, in which Trump bragged about trying to have sex with a married woman and grabbing women by their genitals, has drawn sharp criticism and dominated the start of the debate.

Trump was asked by moderator Anderson Cooper of CNN if he had ever kissed or groped women without their consent. Trump responded he has not.